Why is the sky blue?

Today was mostly a cloudy, unadventurous, wintery day. But late in the afternoon, the sun came out and the sky looked orange. It wasn't a bloody orange like when the sky is on fire during those warm summer evenings, but it was rather a peachy, delicately coral-tinted sky. And as the sun was slowly setting, the shadows in the clouds turned a light purple. It was a majestic color show.
While I was delighting my sight in those beautiful hues, I wondered why the sky wasn't orange, or purple, or green, or any other color but blue. Why, out of all the colors of the rainbow, the sky had to be blue when the sun is shining upon the earth. I could go on a scientific explanation about why the sky is the color it is, and why there are clouds, and why the sun wakes us up in the morning and puts us to bed at night. But for once in my life, I decided that such a beautiful thing needed no further explanation, that it was okay to just sit back and enjoy the show. I won't worry about why the sky is blue, or why there are fish in the ocean and how four-legged creatures evolved from them. Today, I will breathe in the smell of winter roses and feel the cold in my bones. Today, I will forget about the things that trouble me, and I will just look at the sky and forget to ask why it is blue.

Of princesses and real life

I'm at a coffee shop, listening to Christmas music while I grade my students' papers. The holiday sounds, the busy atmosphere of people coming in and out, the energizing smell of roasted coffee and the endless pile of work to do, for some strange reason, remind me of my undergraduate days. I remember spending countless hours in my school's library, studying, daydreaming, hiding from the masses, because, believe it or not, being surrounded by books makes me feel safe.

I grew up with my nose stuck in books. I loved to read. And I still do. But what I read now might be slightly different from what I used to read back in the day.

I loved fairy tales, just like any little girl would. I was fascinated with stories about foreign and beautiful places, where princes traveled across the seas to find their princesses. Or the stories where good always triumphs over evil. Where the poor suffers and one day teaches the rich a lesson. Yes, I also liked those kinds of stories. And I still do, perhaps because I think of my life itself as a fairy tale, as a work of art in the making. A story that will have a happy ending.

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale." ~Hans Christian Andersen

 

 



 

 

Of sunsets and gratitude

Some days are bright and shiny. Some days are dull. But sometimes there are more gray days than sunshine. And many other times it seems like the sun will never come out again.
But there is always light, a light of hope that is stored deep in our hearts, a little voice that whispers "this is not the end yet." This is only the beginning.

And in our busy daily lives, we forget that the small things are the ones that count the most. We forget that a hot cup of tea in the morning can really warm our soul, a smile to a stranger can really brighten up their day, and a hug, or a word of kindness can really make a difference.

The world doesn't revolve around us. We are part of it and we are the forces that move it.

I often forget how blessed I am. I often take things for granted. And many other times I only allow myself to see the dark side of things.

Today I am grateful for sunsets, for the light that produces them and the eyes that are able to appreciate them. I am grateful for being able to capture this beautiful display of colors, that not everybody is lucky to see.

What are you grateful for today?